Coming into Saturday’s game against Georgetown, freshman Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis had shot 9 of 39 (23 percent) in her last four games. Geno Auriemma really doesn’t mind when shooters miss.
But when they also change facial expressions and body language, and their effort in other areas diminishes, he intervenes – and often not subtly.
“There is no amount of talk, watching film, individual instruction, practice; none of it will change it until she decides she [KML] is sick and tired of it all and doesn’t want to pout anymore Auriemma said.
There may be no pouting in basketball. But what’s also true is it happens more frequently than you might think.
“Oh, I was like that last year and he let’s you know if he thinks you are pouting,”’ sophomore Bria Hartley said. “What I learned to do was to try and focus on another one of my teammates and help get them going. It just makes everything better for the entire team.
“But it’s basically like this: If you are missing shots, you want to start making them. The thing to do is learn to turn it [disappointment] into positive energy.”
Mosqueda-Lewis snapped out of it, to a degree, by leading the Huskies with 23 points (10 of 16, 3 of 9 from three) in 34 minutes.
“It’s just one game,” Auriemma said. “It’s a good thing there’s a game [Monday]. It will give her a chance to build on it.”
Mosqueda-Lewis admits she hasn’t been shooting as well as she can and has been thinking a lot about it. After Thursday’s practice, Auriemma let her know, in very specific terms, that he didn’t appreciate how she was beginning to react to the slump.
When Auriemma was addressing her, she says she made sure she was paying attention.
“She mopes about a lot of things,” he said. “She’s one of those kids who does that [sulks] if things don’t go her way. When you are a shooter and shots aren’t going in, then you become mopier. That’s where she is.
“People are trying to help her out of it, but it’s something she needs to figure out for herself. She is being tested right now and tests are good. She’s a good player, a good competitor. She will figure it out. Everyone needs to do what they are good at.
Mosqueda-Lewis isn’t quite sure what to think about it.
“I’m going to say yes [he was right], because he is my coach,” Mosqueda-Lewis said. “I’ve probably been in a little slump, probably been a little down. Probably.
“You do hear about the hitting the freshmen wall and begin to think how you’d react if you do hit it. I hit it and it’s been kind of tough. And even though coach is yelling and saying things to me, he’s also helping me get through it. He’s trying to make me mentally stronger.
“When coach yells at me to shoot the ball, I know he doesn’t mean to shoot it every time I get it. He wants me to be smarter, take the open shots and stop being hesitant.”
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8 Responses to There’s No Pouting In Basketball!
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As for pouting, call it what you will, but if the number-one college recruit has so many 20-point games, and still comes off the bench, I too, (as a fan) would extend my lower lip. I’m guessing it’s only a matter of time before KLM starts over Doty, and it will come at a critical game, just before someone re-annoits Geno as a the psych genius he’s become. From my vantage point on my couch, starting eliminates both the pout and the slump and bad nights become a thing of the past. She’s not a freshman in anything more than her class status. In everything basketball, KLM’s the real deal, starting on every team in the country, except one.
Geno knows what he is doing. He has proved it time and time again over the past 17 years. He doesn’t need any advice from us, coaching from the couch.
I agree with Marty! Trust me Mr. Fallon, Geno has FORGOTTEN more about basketball than you ever would in a 100 lifetimes, pal.
Kaleena does need to add more skills to her game offensively; such as the ability to take her defender off the dribble and drive towards the basket. Idiots in the media who previously compared Kaleena to Maya Moore, (completely unfair to both players, btw) should note that Maya could basically take any defender to the hole whenever she wanted to. Kaleena has yet to show that ability, preferring instead to fire away from outside the 3-point arc. I’m confident that the coaching staff will have Kaleena working on that aspect of her game, indeed if she’s not doing it now in practice. Being a standstill 3 point shooter while a great weapon for the team should not be the only offensive attribute that the young lady has with her game.
UConn/Notre Dame is 2 weeks from Monday, folks. Payback is due that night with UConn wearing the white home jerseys and hopefully supported by a loud, active fan base. I know that UConn has games before then, including tomorrow night at Oklahoma. Sherri Coale the coach of the Sooners does not have a stellar team this year however. Besides, the manner in which UConn was so focused in absolutely obliterating Georgetown on Saturday seems to tell me that the team is starting to peak as we head down the home stretch of the season.
Kaleena, like all players will have great games and no so good games. That’s life. But she will always be a very, very good basketball player. I loved her game against Gtown. It shows up BIG when she scores, but what WE don’t see is the rebounding, like 6 to 8 per game, assists 6 plus, passing, keeping the other teams best guard occupied. She is getting tougher and developing a thicker skin–Give me a pouting KML, a less than 100 percent Doty with their supporting cast–I’d be the happyiest coach in the land. But Geno is now and will remain so, the best basketball coach alive today.
Maya, as a freshman did not drive to the “hole”, she was a 3 point shooter–Geno was always complaining about her not wanting to inside. Kleena is NOT Maya and never will be. But she’ll be the best KML UConn has ever seen. In the last games since ND, KML has made drives to the basket–made some missed some. In the Gtown game, she side stepped the guard and made a couple of easy 2′s.
I personally (and I”M not Geno) do not think Kaleena is best served making the base line 3 shot. She has a better average at the top of the 3 ball arc, plus or minus 30 degrees. From there she is more accurate. Shooting from or parallel to the base line is tough–no reference (like a backboard), must have great depth perception. So until next year move her away from the corners. She’ll have a better percentage!!
Maya always listened to her coach and KML is doing the same, and she will continue to improve. Give her credit as Ms. Hartley pointed out…on at least two occasions she faked her defender, stepped inside the 3-point line, and hit 2′s; no one except Tiffany hits the offensive boards for garbage shots better than KML, and she’s stronger than Hayes. I think that at this point in her freshman year, she’s equal to Maya in many ways and she will get even better by tourney time…she’s a great kid with a wonderful demeanor, just like Maya.
Geno has always been very reluctant to start frosh… remember D came off the bench her frosh year. There have been few exceptions and usually only when Geno didn’t have the necessary firepower to have them come off the bench. Don’t forget also that a lot of these ‘non-starters’ play more mpg than the starters.
I’m a bit concerned by KML’s response when she said she “probably” was in a “little” slump & “probably” was a little down. Those of us watching could see the change in her & not only in her shooting. I don’t think there’s a “probably” about it. It was nice to see the difference in her during the Georgetown game. Keep it going, KML!